Wheel.



CHALMER CARPENTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEEL.

osoeoc.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 532,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLmLMuR CARPENTER, a citizen of the United States ofrunerica, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPem'isylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in\Vheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to wheels, and more particularly to certain newand useful improvements in that type of wheels disclosed in my pendingapplication filed January 253, 190$), Serial No. 473757, wherein I haveillustrated a wheel that can be used in connection with automobiles andsimilar vehicles, the wheel being constructed to eliminate the use ofsprings beneath the vehicle body.

Besides having the same objects in view as disclosed in my pendingapplication, the present invention aims to provide a more durable springconstruction which will insure a positive cooperation of the springs ofthe wheel irrespective of the direction pressure is brought to bear uponthe hub when the wheel is in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel of theabove type with a novel casing adapted to exclude dust and dirt andforeign matter that would have a tendency to impair the springs formingpart of the wheel.

lVith these and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangements of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and thenclaimed.

Reference will now be had to the draw ing forming a part of thisspecification, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elementsthereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape and manner ofassemblage without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel partlybroken away and partly in section. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view ofthe wheel on line rc zc, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of oneof the spring units of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectionalview of the same, and Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe spring unit.

In the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a metallicfelly clmnnebshaped in cross section and connected by a plurality oftangential spokes 2 to a hub 3, the spokes being made of metal andarranged somewhat similar to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Thechannelshaped telly 1 is surrounded by a metallic rim 1- and interposedbetween said rim and the telly 1 is a plurality of spring units adaptedto cooperate in supporting the hub 3 centrally of the wheel, the springunits being designed to allord sullicient resiliency whereby the hub 23and the weight supported thereby will be thoroughly cushioned.

To support and properly distribute the spring units between the follyand rim, two sets of coupling members are employed, one set associatingwith the folly and the other set with the rim. The coupling members ofthat set which associates with the folly are indicated by the referencecharacter 5 and are secured in position by rivets (3 or other suitablehold-fast devices and the coupling members of that set which associateswith the rim are indicated by the reference character 8. Each of thecoupling members is trough-shapcd in contour and the members 5 areoppositely disposed with respect to the members b. Each of the couplingmembers at each end is provided with a pair of apcrtured ears 7. Each ofthe members 8 intermediate its ends is provided with a pair of openings9 through which extend certain of the bolts 10 whereby the couplingmembers 8 will be connected in position against the inner face of therim. The manner of positioning the bolts 10 for maintaining the couplingmembers 8 against the rim will be hereinafter referred to. Each springunit comprises a pair of shiftable links and a pair of shiftable yokes,the links interlocking with the yokes. The links of the pad areindicated by the reference characters 11 and 12, the link 11 being theouter link and the link 1), the in ner link, the links extend inopposite directions with respect to each other, but are ar 'anged inparallel planes. The yokes of the pair are indicated by the referencecharacters 13 and 14, the yoke 13 being the outer and, the yoke 14; theinner one, theyokes extend in opposite directions with respect to eachother, but are arranged in parallel planes at right angles with respectto the links 11 and 12. The inner ends of the links 11 and 12 areflattened and beveled, as at 15, whereby they will easily ride againstone another. The lower end of the link 12 is open to provide parallelshanks 16 having the lower ends thereof threaded, as at 17.

Mounted on the shanks 16 is a rectangular plate 18 having openingsform-ed therein to receive the shanks 16. The corners of the plate 18are bent upwardly, as at 19, to form a cup. The plate 18 is retainedupon the shanks 16 by coupling piece 20 and the coupling piece isretained upon the shanks by nuts 21 threaded thereon. The coupling pieceis provided with an opening 22, whereby it can be pivotally connected toone of the coupling members 5 by transverse pins 23.

The upper end of the link 11 is bent to form an eyelet 24 adapted to beconnected to the coupling members 8 by transverse pins 25. Prior to theformation of the link 11 a plate 26 is mounted upon the link, said platebeing similar to the plate 18.

The lower end of the yoke 14 is open to provide shanks adapted to extendthrough the plate 18, said shanks being held in said plate by nuts 27.The upper end of the yoke 13 is open to provide shanks adapted to extendthrough the plate 26, and the ends of the yoke are bent or clenched, asat 28, upon the plate 26.

interposed between the plates 18 and 26 and encircling the links 11 and12 and yokes 13 and 1a is a coiled spring 29 serving functionally eitheras'an extension spring or a compression spring, according to thedirection in which pressure is brought to bear upon the hub 3.

Mounted against the periphery of the rim is a tire 33 which ispreferably formed of hard rubber and has each of its sides provided witha groove. Arranged against each edge of the rim is an annular side plate31' having its outer edge bent inwardly and extending into a groove ofthe tire to form a clencher. The inwardly-bent edges of the side plates31 are indicated by the reference character 32 and when in engagementwith the grooves of the tire 33 retain the tire in position upon the rim4:. The side plates 31 are maintained in abutting engagement against theedges of the rim 4 by a series of bolts 10 which project through theside plates and carry on their projecting ends the clamping nuts 30.Certain of the bolts 10 extend through the openings 9 of the couplingmembers 8 whereby said coupling members 8 are connected in positionagainst the inner face of the rim 1. The coupling members 8 are invertedrelative to the members 5 and they conform to the shape of the rim 4 toform a substantial bearing, particularly when pressure is brought tobear upon the spring units connected to said members.

The arrangement of the links 11 and 12 relative to the yokes 13 and 14limits the expansion of the spring 29, but the links and yokes are madeof a sufficient length and the springs of a sufficient strength to allowthe units to cooperate in cushioning a load. The compression of thesprings 29 is only limited by the inner ends of the yokes contactingwith the plates 18 and 26, but the tension of the springs 29 is suchthat this will seldom occur.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

-'1. A wheel comprising a felly, a rim spaced therefrom and providedwith a tire, a set of outer coupling members, holdfast devices forsecuring said members against the inner face of the rim, a set of innercoupling members secured to the outer face of the felly, a plurality ofpairs of inner and outer shiftable links, means whereby the outer linkof each pair is connected to an outer coupling member, a plate carriedby each of the links of a pair, yokes attached to the said plates andextending through the links for slidably connecting each pair of linkstogether, a coupling piece carried by each of the inner links of thepairs of links for connecting the inner links to the inner couplingmembers, said coupling pieces further constituting abutments for theplates carried by'the inner links of the pairs of links, and aspring'surrounding said links and yokes and interposed between theplates.

2. A wheel comprising a felly, a rim spaced from the felly and providedwith a tire, a set of outer coupling members, means for connecting saidmembers against the inner face of the rim, a set of inner couplingmembers secured against the outer face of the felly, a plurality of setsof links, each set of links comprising an inner and an outer link,plates carried by and connected to the links of each set, inner andouter yokes extending through the links of each set for connecting themtogether, and extending through the plates, a spring surrounding thelinks of each set and their respective yokes and interposed between theplates, means whereby an outer link of each set is connected to one endof an outer coupling member, and means whereby an inner link of each setis connected to one end of an inner coupling member.

3. A wheel comprising a felly, a rim spaced from the felly and providedwith a tire, a set of outer coupling members, means for connecting saidmembers against the inner face of the rim, a set of inner couplingmembers secured against the outer face of the folly, a plurality of setsof shitt'table links, each set of links comprising an inner and an outerlink extending in parallel planes, a pair of yokes extending through thelinks of each set and at right angles with respect to the planes of thelinks for slidably connecting the links of each set together, meanswhereby each set of links is connected to one end of an outer couplingmember and to one end of an inner coupling member, a pair of platescarried by the links and yokes of each set, and a spring sur roundingthe links and yokes of each set and interposed between said plates.

4. A Wheel comprising a folly, a rim spaced from the felly and providedwith a tire, a set of outer coupling members, means for maintaining saidmembers against the inner face of the rim, a series of inner couplingmembers secured against the outer face of the telly, a plurality of setsof links, yokes extending through the links of each set for slidablyconnecting them together, means for pivotally connecting each set oflinks to one end of an outer coupling member, means for pivotallyconnecting the other ends of each set of links to one end of an innercoupling member, a pair of plates carried by each set of links and theirrespective yokes, and a spring surrounding each set of links and theirrespective yokes and interposed between said plates.

5. A wheel cmnprising a folly, a rim spaced therefrom and provided witha tire, a set of outer coupling members, means for connecting saidmembers against the inner face of the rim, :1 series of inner couplingmembers secured against the outer face of the telly, a plurality of setsof links, the links of each set extending in parallel planes, yokesextending through the links of each set for shiftably connecting themtogether, said yokes disposed in parallel planes and in planes at rightangles with respect to the planes of the links, a coupling piece carriedby a link of each set for connecting its respective set of links to oneend of an inner coupling member, means for pivotally connecting one ofthe links of each set to one end of an outer coupling member, a pair ofplates carried by the links of each set and their respective yokes, anda spring surrounding the links of each set and their respective yokesand interposed between a pair of plates.

In testimony whereof T. all ix my signature in the presence of'twoWitnesses.

OHALh [ER CARPENTER.

Vitnesscs MAX H. SaoLovrrz, K. H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

